Oil well valve



C. W. FISHER OIL WELL VALVE F eb. 22, 1938.

Filed Jan. 8, 1937 INVENTOR Patented Feb. `22, 1938 l UNITED; STATESPATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to oil well valves and particularly to a valve tobe used in the tubing string in an oil or gas well and forming meanswhereby duid passing from the well may be by- 5 passed through thetubing string and around the packers, or around any number of packers.

It has been found that when a packer is run on the tubing string in thewell casing and the hole is lled with fluid, the packer makes a very 10.close fit in the casing, there is very little chance for the iiuid topass between the packer and the casing, as pressure builds up in thewell under the packer, consequently the packer will move downwardly veryslowly in the casing, therefore l5 it is an object of the invention toprovide valve means carried by the tubing string and controlling by-passmeans around the packet, whereby the uid may be discharged into thecasing above the packer and around the tubing string.

0 A further object is to provide a valve cage having discharge portsaround the tubing string in spaced relation with the tubing string and avalve carried by the tubing string and telescopically cooperating withthe cage for closing the 25 cage ports when the tubing string reachesthe bottom of the well and the anchor, which carries the valve cage, isforced upwardly.

A further object is to provide the anchor with a frusto conically shapedvalve around the' valve i0 cage and with which the spring actuatedvalve,

carried by the tubing string, cooperates.

A further object is to provide a slidable connection between the Valvesleeve and valve Whereby the parts will move longitudinally in relationto each other, but will rotate together.

A further object is to provide valve means in connection with an anchormember through which the tubing string extends and forming means wherebyfluid may by-pass packers cari ried by the string and anchor member,thereby relieving pressure beneath the packers for allowing rapiddownward movement of the tubing string and free owing of the well,particularly when there is a low pressure in the well. Also to allowrapid lowering of the string into the well casing when the well isflowing, or whenq the well has been mudded ofi' to hold back thepressure coming from the producing formation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a well casingand tubing string, showing the valve means applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view similar to Figure l,but showing conventional forms of packers on the tubing string, and thevalve in open position for allowing by-pass of fluid around the packersand into the casing above the packers.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the valve closed and thefluid passing through the tubing string.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view in section of the valve in openposition and a bayonet slot connecting means for holding the valve inopen position until adjacent tubing sections are partially rotated.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through one side of the valveshowing a packing element in the frustoconically shaped valve seat.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates the well casing,which is of conventional form, and disposed within the well casing isthe tubing string 2, which is formed from a plurality of axiallydisposed sections 3.1 The tubing string 2 is provided with anchorsection 4, which is adapted to engage the bottom of the well and to beforced upwardly when the tubing string is lowered into the casing. Theanchor member 4 surrounds the tubing sections 3 and is supported by thereducer couplings 5, which also form a connection between adjacenttubing sections 3. Threaded on the coupling 5, at 6, is a valve sleevel, which surrounds the tubing string in spaced relation thereto andterminates at its lower end in a. frustoconically shaped valve 8, whichhas a lug and slot connection 9 and I0 to a valve cage II. The valvecage II is in sleeve form and is normally forced downwardly by anexpansion spring I2, interposed between its upper enlarged end I3 andthe lower end of the coupler 5, therefore it will be seen that the valve8 will be maintained unseated in relation to the valve seat I4 during alowering operation.

The cage valve II is provided with a plurality of ports I5 within thevalve seat I4, therefore it will be seen when the valve 8 is unseated asshown in Figures land 2, the fluid passing upwardly through the anchor 4will by-pass the packer` members I6 and be discharged into the casing Iabove the packer, thereby relieving pressure below the relatively tightpacker, and allowing the rapid lowering of the string 2 into the well,which is not the case with strings, as at present constructed, andwherein pressure builds up under the packers and retards the downwardmovement of the string. The packers are of conventional construction andit is to be understood that any kind of packer may be used. The anchor 4is connected by means of a coupling I'I, to the reducer coupling I8,which is connected to the cage valve II.

When the string 2 reaches the bottom of the well, the anchor 4 is forcedupwardly with the valve cage and valve seat I I and I4 carried therebyagainst the action of the'weight of the string and the expansive actionof the coiled spring I2 until the valve 8 is seated in the valve seatI4, thereby cutting off the discharge of the fluid into the casing an'dat which time the uid may be discharged from the well through the tubingstring 2 as shown in Figure 3. It will be noted however, if it isdesired to apply pressure for lifting the fluid, the tubing string maybe raised as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and pressure may be forceddownwardly through the tubing string 2, thereby causing the liquid to beforced upwardly through the anchor and valve cage II and into thecasing. An intermittent operation of raising and lowering thetube stringand applying pressure would build up a column of fluid in the casing Ifor discharging the same from the casing'as distinguished from thetubing string. Such a system is particularly applicable to non-flowingwells.

If so desired any number of packers and valves may be used and thestring raised or lowered for operating at different levels, however forpurposes of illustration only one packer is shown.

Referring to Figure 5,1a modified form of valve seat I4 is providedincluding a packing I9, otherwise the structure is the same. In Figure 4is shown a structure particularly adapted for discharging from variouslevels, and in this structure, the tubing string does not extend throughthe valve cage and a bayonet slot connection 20 is provided. In manycases a series of openings are desired at various levels on the tubing,where-v in the gas may be introduced at various points. This can beaccomplished by putting valves in the string at several levels and notrunning the string clear through the valve. By threading the tubing'into the top reducing coupling 5 and then threading another section 5aon the valve seat coupling I8 below the valve it will not be necessaryto run the string through the valve, but at the same time a break in thetubing string will occur within the Valve structure permitting gasinduction into the vtubing at this point. When a series of valves areused on the tubing string, it is obvious that when the tubing' is raisedto open the ports in the valve the one at the highest elevation willopen first and by a continued lifting of the tubing string the next inline will open and so on to the lowest one. When closing, the lowest`valve will close first and so on to the top. The bayonet slotconnection 20 provides a positive means, other than spring for holdingthe valves open, however the valves can be closed by a partial rotationof the string sections.

The device has been found to be particularly desirable where relativelyclose packers are used on the string. In such structures there is verylittle chance for the fluid to pass between the packer andthe casing,consequently pressure builds up under the packer, and the packer movesthe fluid would spill over the top of the tubingv string and create afire hazard. Another advantage of the by-passing valve is in cases wherethe well has been mudded in to hold back the flow of oil and after thepacker has been set. It is always customary to wash the mud out of thecasing, and by the use of the by-passing valve, it is possible to eitherwash the mud out through the tubing by allowing pressure in the casingor to wash the mud out through the casing by iny duction of pressure inthe tubing. These operations are not possible with the ordinary set upas at present used. If, after the mud has been washed out of the casingand tubing, the well has sufficient pressure to now a large volume ofoil through the casing, the valve is held open, permitting the fluid toflow up through the packer and out through the valve apertures. Afterthe natural pressure of the well has diminished to a point where it isdesirable to flow through the tubing, this operation is accomplished byletting down on the tubing, thereby closing the valve case ports, and asthere is no outlet to the casing, the oil will be compelled to flowupwardly through the tubing.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. A valve of the character described, comprising an upper body portion,a lower body portion carrying an .apertured sleeve anchored to the lowerbody portion and telescopically mounted within the upper body portion,both upper and lower portions having cooperating valve seating surfaceswhich will seal against each other when telescoped in one direction.

2. A valve as set forth in claim 1 including a means for preventing theupper body portion from revolving in relation to the lower body portion.

3. A valve as set forth in claim 1 including means to hold the upperbody portion and the lower body portion extended during a running inoperation.

4. A valve comprising an upper body portion mounted on a tubing string,a lower body portion having an apertured sleeve anchored to the lowerbody portion and extending upwardly and telescopically mounted in theupper body portion, means within the upper body portion cooperating withthe telescopic sleeve and forming means for holding both body portionsin extended relation to each other,a casing carrying a packer at itsbottom end and suspended to the bottom end of the lower body section,said packer when set in the casing proper forming means for holding thelower body portion against vertical movement, seating surfaces carriedby both body portions, said vertical movement of the tubing formingmeans for opening or closing the two seating surfaces. f

5. A valve comprising an upper body portion having an .enlarged chambertherein, a tubing string extending axially through said upper bodyportion and chamber therein, a valve cage sleeve slidably mounted in thelower end of the upper body portion, said cage having ports thereinposition when the cage is downwardly extended', a lower body portionsurrounding the tubing string. inspaced relation thereto, said cagebeing anchored within the lowerbody portion at a.

point spaced from its Vupper end, a valve seat carried by the lower bodyportion and surroundr ing the ports of the cage in spaced relationthereto and a valve element carried by the lower end of the upper bodyportion surrounding the .cage and when in lowered position closing theports in the cage and seating in the valveseat.

6. A device as set forth m claim 5 mcmdmg' an expansion spring withinthe chamber of the upper body portion,v a shoulder carried by the upperendof the valve-cage and engaged by the spring, a shouldenin the 'upperend of the chamber of-the upper body member and engaged by -the spring,said shoulder carried by the upper end of the' valve cage 'being limitedby a shoulder within the chamber of the upper bodyl member adjacent itslower end.

- 7. A devlce'as set -forth in claim 5 including an upwardly andhorizontally extending bayonet slot carried by the upper end of the cageand a lug carried by the upper body member and extending into said slotand forming-means whereby the upper body member may be maintained inraised position.

CHARILEY' W. FISHER.

